9 gifts and gadgets for the avid reader in your life

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Amazon / Yu Han
Settling down with a good book and soaking in everything it has to tell you is one of those experiences that can't be tainted by technology. There's a certain purity to shutting off the outside world and putting nothing between you and the text in your hands, a refreshing feeling that's difficult for something as hyperactive as a smartphone or tablet to recreate.

That said, times have changed, and there are plenty of accessories out there that'll make reading more convenient for any bookworm who's open to them.

In that spirit, we've rounded up a few of our preferred gifts for avid readers below.

Kindle Paperwhite

Amazon

While your current smartphone or tablet can serve up plenty of books on its own, it isn't really designed with reading in mind. It can be difficult to focus on anything with a few dozen apps throwing notifications at you, let alone something as dense as a 500-page novel.

E-readers, meanwhile, are well-established as the ultimate gadget for bookworms by now: They don't have tablets' color screens, but they're smaller and longer-lasting, they compile thousands of books in one place, and they give all their attention to the book in front of you.

Amazon's Kindle is the e-reader that popularized the category, and years later it's still the best one you can buy. Specifically, the Kindle Paperwhite is the best value of its family. It's neither as affordable as the entry-level Kindle nor as light and effortlessly smooth as the Kindle Voyage, but it finds an excellent balance between the two. It has the same high-def 6-inch display as the Voyage, built-in light for reading at night, and dependable performance. Crucially, it has access to the same Kindle content library, which is simply the most reliable, affordable, and varied of its kind. All in all, this is an improvement to what's long been a fantastic device.

A Kindle case

Amazon

If you've taken your reading to the Kindle bandwagon but miss the feel of front and back covers, it's worth picking up a protective case. Fintie's leather Kindle Paperwhite cases are slim, affordable, well-reviewed, and available in a variety of fun patterns, so they're a risk-free bet.

Amazon's own case, meanwhile, costs $40, but it's made specifically with the latest Paperwhite in mind, and has almost universally positive feedback after nearly 16,000 user reviews.

Kobo Aura H2O

Kobo

The Kindle is the definitive frontrunner when it comes to general e-reader quality and convenience, but if there's one flaw to the whole series, it's that none of them are waterproof. However, the Kobo Aura H2O is.

It isn't as robust in its build or content library as the Kindle Paperwhite despite costing $40 more, but it's got a bigger (and still sharp) display, speedy performance, and solid built-in lighting. The big appeal, though, is that it's IP67 certified to be both waterproof and sandproof. If you get a good chunk of your reading done outdoors, it'll offer more peace of mind.

If you're hesitant to leave the Kindle ecosystem, though, there is a way to get one of Amazon's readers in a waterproofed condition. Waterfi is a California-based company that specializes in making existing products resistant to water damage, and it sells a specially treated waterproof Kindle Paperwhite for $240. That's pricey, but it's been proven to work, and it lets you avoid the bulk of a water-resistant case.

A tablet stand

Amazon

It's firmly a first-world problem, but holding up a tablet or Kindle (or even a regular paperback) to read for longer sessions can get a little exhausting on your arms. To prevent yourself from fidgeting around by the time you hit page 50, you can pick up one of the many cheap-yet-dependable tablet stands that'll let you peruse hands-free. This simple AmazonBasics stand is less than $10, is compatible with most 6- to 8-inch devices, and has a 4.7 rating on Amazon after more than 2,000 user reviews.

A tablet stand for reading in bed

Amazon

Continuing along those lines, something like Nbryte's Tablift tablet stand is a better choice for anyone who wants to get some electronic reading time in before bed. Its flexible and foldable legs can bend right around your torso as you're laying down, bringing you an admittedly weird-looking but convenient way to turn the pages as you drift off.

For something a little more malleable and easier to transport around the house, you can try Levo's highly-rated Deluxe Floor Stand. It's flat-out expensive at $190, but if you value that hands-free experience more than most, it might be worth it.

Noise-cancelling headphones

Amazon

While the best books have a way of entrancing you, it can be difficult to enjoy them on the go with the outside world being its noisy self. That goes double if you plan on listening to an audiobook instead. One way to mitigate this is with a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones, and Audio-Technica's ATH-ANC7b QuietPoint cans are one of the more affordable ways of getting some silence. They can't cancel out all ambient noise, but they stamp out enough for the price, they're light, and they're comfortable for extended sessions.

If you have a little more cash to spend, Bose's QuietComfort series has by far the best noise-cancelling technology on the market. Both the in-ear QuietComfort 20s and the over-ear QuietComfort 25s will set you back $300, but for that money you get better sound, at least as much comfort, and almost total silence in everyday situations, whether you're reading in the park or listening to an audiobook on a flight.

A Bluetooth speaker

Amazon

If you want to get your audiobook listening done at home, the OontZ Curve is a highly affordable Bluetooth speaker that's ideal for personal use. We've highlighted it before, but it's a well-made and highly compact, with easy-to-use controls and decent battery life. It struggles with more complex recordings, as you'd expect from something this small and inexpensive, but it has a surprisingly strong midrange. That means vocals and spoken word come through nice and clearly, which in turn makes this a convenient little tool for listening to a story.

A book light

Amazon

If you're set on reading the old-fashioned way, there isn't a ton of tech to recommend, but a reliable clip-on light for reading in the dark will always have its uses. Mighty Bright's XtraFlex 2 does exactly what you'd want from one of these: It stays on your book and comfortably illuminates it. Its lights are rated at 100,000 hours of use, so even if it only gets half of that, it'll probably be the only book light you'll ever need. It does require batteries, though, so if you'd rather a rechargeable light, take a look at this alternative from LuminoLite instead.

A bookmark and flag pen

Amazon

Finally, here's a simple little accessory for those who have to take notes as they read along. For $10, the Bookmarker is a replaceable pen and bookmark rolled into one, with 100 little sticky notes for marking off pages and a strap for holding your book shut as well. It's obviously not the most essential tool in the world, but it's cheap and flexible.

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